The Invasion of Gog

From Ezekiel 36:22 to the end of the chapter, God has Ezekiel speak to the people of Israel, where they learn of their gathering to their land in the last days. “Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: I do not this for your sake, O house of Israel, but for my holy name, which ye have profaned among the nations, whither ye went. And I will sanctify my great name, which hath been profaned among the nation …. and the nations shall know that I am Jehovah, … when I shall be sanctified in you before their eyes” verse 22,23. God will so change this people in the eyes of the nations, that they will magnify his name. This is the witness God had intended Israel give, this is the fruition of God’s intent for this people, that they might be a beacon on a hill, to point the way of salvation to all nations.

“I will sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you. A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you; and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep mine ordinances, and do them. And ye shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; and ye shall be my people, and I will be your God” verse 25-28. This does not come without difficulty, “Then shall ye remember your evil ways, and your doings that were not good; and ye shall loathe yourselves in your own sight for your iniquities and for your abominations” verse 31. It seems fitting that Israel is next described as a flock of sheep, they like sheep, are now dependent on God as their shepherd. “I will increase them with men like a flock. As the flock for sacrifice, as the flock of Jerusalem in her appointed feasts, so shall the waste cities be filled with flocks of men; and they shall know that I am Jehovah” verses 37, 38.

As we come to the close of chapter 36, we might think, here is a good place to conclude this prophecy, but this may not be the prophet's intention. let’s consider a scenario which links chapter 36 with 38 and 39. With this view, the cleansing and blessing of Israel before the nation spoken of in Ezekiel 36 causes a controversy and division among the nations. Many who see what is happing in Israel say, this could only be the work of God, others say, no it is not. Those not touched by the display of God’s goodness to Israel, in jealousy gather an army called Gog of the land of Magog.

            If chapters 38 and 39 are a continuation, of chapter 36 we might wonder why would God cleans Israel of all her sins and then draw Gog to invade Israel? Here, is an abbreviated portion of chapter 38, “I will turn thee (Gog) about, and put hooks into thy jaws, and I will bring thee forth … a great company … with shield and helmet armor, and all his hordes; … Togarmah . . . all his hordes … many peoples … all thy companies … thou shalt come into the land that is brought back from the sword, that is gathered out of many peoples … which have been a continual waste … they shall dwell securely, all of them … thou shalt come like a storm … like a cloud to cover the land … thy hordes … many peoples. I will go to them that are at rest, that dwell securely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates … to take the spoil … against the people that are gathered out of the nations, that have gotten cattle and goods. … thou shalt come up against my people Israel, as a cloud to cover the land it shall come to pass in the latter days, that I will bring thee against my land, that the nations may know me, when I shall be sanctified in thee, O Gog, before their eyes”.

Chapter 36 describes not only Israel's time of cleansing, but also the time when Israel bares their shame, “Then shall ye remember your own evil ways, and your doings that were not good, and shall loathe yourselves in your own sight for your iniquities and for your abominations”, verse 31. Chapter 39 makes reference to this same period, “After that they have borne their shame and all their trespasses whereby they have trespassed against me, when they dwelt safely in their land and none made them afraid” also, “and am sanctified in them in the sight of many nations”. Theses verse in Chapter 39:26, 27 help us to understand that the time of Israel’s cleansing, and bearing their shame spoken of in chapter 36, is also the time when Israel dwells safely. When we understand this, we can connect the events of chapter 36 to the events of chapters 38 and 39.

In chapter 36, God transforms Israel openly, before the nations (before their eyes), in order to test the nations. Where the nations fall, either with Gog or not, rests solely on each person’s perception of what has been happening to Israel as the unseen hand of God transforms this nation into an exemplary people. As Gog approaches, neither Israel nor the nations have seen any out word manifestation of God in the earth, other than Israel’s transformation and blessing, those who align with Gog construe this change as having nothing to do with God.

The dreams which God gave Joseph, as a young man, increased his brothers' jealousy toward him, the blessings God gives Israel in chapter 36, in jealousy draws Gog against Israel. God uses Israel as a way to sift the nations and forever remove the enmity, which the seed of the serpent holds for the seed of the woman.

The invasion of Israel serves another purpose, in chapter 14 of Zechariah God draws all nations against Jerusalem, after God’s defense of the city all the pots in the city are made holiness to God. We might think of Israel at the end of Ezekiel chapter 36 as a clean vessel, but God uses the invasion of Gog to crystalize and elevate Israel, as they pass through this experience.

As Gog enters the land of Canaan, God reacts “my fury shall come up in my face”. God defends Israel with what may seem an extreme reaction there is a great shaking of the earth “every wall shall fall to the ground” Ezekiel 38:20. This great judgment against Gog then becomes the occasion for exalting Israel. The destruction of Gog and the elevation of Israel are related, the act which destroys the one is the very thing which elevates the other. Israel and Gog are in the position which the first born of Israel, and first born of Egypt, held at the original Passover. Both stand in jeopardy, both Israel and Gog have entered Canaan and stand on holy ground. This is the land of which it was said, devours its inhabitants. Now God draws near, those who pass through untouched, are elevated in the eyes of the nations, and seen as a holy nation before God.

Chapter 38 and 39 of Ezekiel is much like Isaac giving the blessing to Jacob, the Jealousy which Gog has for Israel is like the story of Cana and Able, Gog who is the seed of the serpent is forever removed, and the way is open now for the final judgment of the nations who remain. Just as, the deliverance of the first born in Israel opened the door, and removed any obstacle to Israel leaving Egypt, so now the deliverance of Israel and the destruction of Gog opens the door for the nations to come to Zion. Now the river of Ezekiel 46:12 begins to flow from under the temple the trees on either side of the river are for the healing of the nations.

The sequence of events, we have considered, follows Revelation chapters 20 and 21. The time of Israel’s cleansing, and baring their shame, would correspond to the millennium, this is the time when Israel dwells safely without walls or gaits. During this time, the nations would not know they are in the millennium, they would only know that they are living in a time of peace. Israel would consist of believing Jew and gentile. Generations would live and die as they do now, with one difference, through this time Israel would be cleansed and greatly prosper above all nations. Gog’s invasion would correspond to the little season, after these events the river of the water of life would flow from under the temple to the nations this would be the time of the great white throne judgment and the resurrection. If this scenario is correct, it seems that God holds the judgment of the nations until the issue between the seed of the woman, and the seed of the serpent is resolved, then the cover is removed, salvation is then clearly seen in Israel.

Why should not the nations seek salvation in Zion during the millennium, need they wait until after the little season? We might think of the land of Canaan as like the tabernacle during the Day of Atonement, where no one was allowed to enter until the atonement was completed. In chapters 36 and 38 we find twice it states that God is sanctified in the eyes of the nations, first by the cleansing of Israel and next when Gog is judged. “when I shall be sanctified in you (Israel) before their (the nations) eyes” 36:23, “when I shall be sanctified in thee, O Gog, before their (the nations) eyes”38:16. Once this process of sanctifying God in the eyes of the nations is completed the nations will be allowed to approach Zion for salvation.                                      A. Hopkins  andlnd@lifename.net May 2012